Grading every selection for the Raiders 2018 draft class

Grading every selection for the Raiders 2018 draft class

It’s always been said that you can’t grade a rookie class until five years later. To me, that seems foolish, especially considering how valuable rookies are in today’s NFL. Typically, we have a pretty good idea of how good/bad a draft class is going to be after a season or two.

Today, we are going to be grading every one of the Raiders’ selections from the 2018 NFL Draft as we reflect on how well or how poorly each played as a rookie. The grades that will be given will be from A to F, and an explanation will be provided for each selection by the Raiders.

Without further ado, let us begin!

Round 1, No. 15 overall: Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

After trading down from pick No.10, the Oakland Raiders selected UCLA tackle Kolton Miller with the 15th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. At the time, that pick seemed like a reach as better players were still on the board, specifically safety Derwin James. However, Jon Gruden wanted to get himself a future left tackle.

In his rookie year, Miller struggled significantly. According to Pro Football Focus, Miller allowed 65 total pressures 16 total sacks. He finished the year as one of the lowest-graded offensive linemen in the league.

Miller struggled with injuries, and that certainly impacted his play. However, he was a liability whenever he was on the field. Oakland knew he was a project when they selected him and the hope was that his best football was still ahead of him. But his first year in the NFL was somewhat concerning.

GRADE: D

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